That Stick ... Read online

  That Stick ...

  Charlotte Mary Yonge

  This eBook was prepared by Les Bowler.

  THAT STICK

  by

  CHARLOTTE M. YONGE

  author of ‘the heir of redclyffe’, ‘unknown to history’, etc.

  London

  MACMILLAN AND CO.

  and new york

  1892

  All rights reserved

  p. v

  Chap.

  Page

  1

  Honours

  1

  2

  Honours Reflected

  9

  3

  What is Honour?

  20

  4

  Honours Waning

  25

  5

  The Peer

  29

  6

  The Weight of Honours

  36

  7

  Mortons and Manners

  41

  8

  Second Thoughts

  49

  9

  The Heir-Presumptuous

  53

  10

  Coming Honours

  64

  11

  Possession

  70

  12

  The Burthen of Honours

  77

  13

  The Dower House

  81

  14

  Westhaven Versions of Honours

  88

  15

  The Pied Rook

  99

  16

  What is Rest?

  107

  17

  On The Surface

  114

  18

  Desdichado

  120

  19

  The Dolomites

  129

  p. vi20

  Ratzes

  137

  21

  The Heir-Apparent

  143

  22

  Out of Joint

  147

  23

  Velvet

  155

  24

  The Revenge of Sordid Spirits

  163

  25

  The Love

  169

  26

  Ida’s Warning

  175

  27

  The Young Pretender

  180

  28

  Two Bundles of Hay

  187

  29

  Jones or Rattler

  193

  30

  SCARLET FEVER

  202

  31

  Mite

  208

  32

  A Shock

  216

  33

  Darkness

  223

  34

  The Phantom of the Station

  230

  35

  The Quest

  239

  36

  Ida’s Confession

  247

  37

  Hope

  252

  38

  The Clue

  262

  39

  The Honourable Pauper

  270

  40

  Joy Well-nigh Incredible

  277

  41

  The Canadian Northmoor

  284

  42

  Humble Pie

  290

  43

  The Staff

  295

  p. 1CHAPTER I

  HONOURS

  ‘Oh, there’s that stick. What can he want?’ sighed one of a pair of dignified elderly ladies, in black silk, to the other, as in a quiet country-town street they saw themselves about to be accosted by a man of about forty, with the air of a managing clerk, who came up breathlessly, with a flush on his usually pale cheeks.

  ‘Miss Lang; I beg pardon! May I be allowed a few words with Miss Marshall? I know it is unusual, but I have something unusual to tell her.’

  ‘Nothing distressing, I hope, Mr. Morton,’ said one of the ladies, startled.

  ‘Oh no, quite the reverse,’ he said, with a nervous laugh; ‘in fact, I have unexpectedly come into a property!’

  ‘Indeed!’ with great astonishment, ‘I congratulate you,’ as the colour mounted in his face, pleasant, honest, but with the subdued expression left by long years of patience in a subordinate position.

  p. 2‘May I ask—’ began the other sister.

  ‘I hardly understand it yet,’ was the answer; ‘but I must go to town by the 5.10 train, and I should like her to hear it from myself.’

  ‘Oh, certainly; it does you honour, Mr. Morton.’

  They were entering the sweep of one of those large substantial houses on the outskirts of country towns that have a tendency to become boarding-schools, and such had that of the Misses Lang been long before the days of the High School.

  ‘Fortunately it is recreation-time,’ said Miss Lang, as she conducted Mr. Morton to the drawing-room, hung round with coloured drawings, in good taste, if stiff, and chiefly devoted to interviews with parents.

  ‘Poor little Miss Marshall!’ murmured one sister, when they had shut him in.

  ‘What a loss she will be!’

  ‘She deserves any good fortune.’

  ‘She does. Is it not twenty years?’

  ‘Twenty-two next August, sister.’

  Yes, it was twenty-two years since Mary Marshall had been passed from the Clergy Orphan Asylum to be English governess at Miss Lang’s excellent school at Hurminster. In that town resided, with her two sons, Mrs. Morton, the widow of a horse-dealing farmer in the late Mr. Marshall’s parish. On discovering the identity of the English governess with the little girl who had admired the foals, lambs, and chickens in past times, Mrs. Morton gave invitations to tea. She was ladylike, the sons unexceptionable, and no objection could reasonably be made by the Misses Lang, though the acquaintance was regretted by them.

  p. 3Mr. Morton, the father, had died in debt and distress, and the eldest son had been thankful for a clerkship in the office of Mr. Burford, a solicitor in considerable practice, and man of business to several of the county magnates. Frank Morton was not remarkable for talent or enterprise, but he was plodding and trustworthy, methodical and accurate, and he had continued in the same position, except that time had made him senior instead of junior clerk. Partly from natural disposition, partly from weight of responsibility, he had always been a grave, steady youth, one of those whom their contemporaries rank as sticks and muffs, because not exalted by youthful spirits or love of daring. His mother and brother had always been his primary thought; and his recreations were of the sober-sided sort—the chess club, the institute, the choral society. He was a useful, though not a distinguished, member of the choir of St. Basil’s Church, and a punctual and diligent Sunday-school teacher of the least interesting boys. To most of the world of Hurminster he was almost invisible, to the rest utterly insignificant. Even his mother was far less occupied with him than with his brother Charles, who was much handsomer, more amusing and spirited, as well as far less contented or easy to be reckoned upon. But there was one person to whom he was everything, namely, little brown-eyed, soft-voiced Mary Marshall.

  She felt herself the happiest of creatures when, after two years of occasional evening teas and walks to Evensong at St. Basil’s, it was settled that she should become his wife as soon as his salary should p. 4be increased, and Charlie be in condition to assist in supporting his mother. Ever since, Mary had rested on that hope, and the privileges it gave. She had loyally informed the Misses Lang, who were scarcely propitious, but could not interfere, as long as their pupils (or they believed so) surmised nothing. So the Sunday evening intercou
rse became more frequent, and in the holidays, when the homeless governess had always remained to superintend cleaning and repairs, there were many pleasant hours spent with kind old Mrs. Morton, who, if she had ever wished that Frank had waited longer and chosen some one with means, never betrayed it to the girl whom she soon loved as a daughter.

  Two years had at first been thought of as the period of patience. Charles had a situation as clerk in a shipping office at Westhaven, a small seaport about twenty miles off, and his mother was designing to go to keep house for him, when he announced that his banns had been asked with the daughter of the captain and part-owner of a small trading vessel of the port.

  The Hurminster couple must defer their plans till further promotion; and so far from helping his mother, Charles ere long was applying to her, when in need, for family expenses.

  Then came a terrible catastrophe. Charlie had been ill, and in his convalescence was taken on a voyage by his father-in-law. There was a collision in the Channel, and the Emma Jane and all on board were lost. The insurance did not cover the pecuniary loss; debts came to light, and nothing was left for the widow and her three children p. 5except a seaside lodging-house in which her father had invested his savings.

  The children’s education and great part of their maintenance must fall on their uncle; and again his marriage must wait till this burthen was lessened. Old Mrs. Morton died; and meetings thus became more difficult and infrequent. Frank had hoped to retain the little house where he had lived so long; but his sister-in-law’s demands were heavy, and he found himself obliged to sell his superfluous furniture, and commit himself to the rough attendance of the housekeeper at the office, where two rooms were granted to him.

  Thus had year after year gone by, unmarked except by the growth of the young people at Westhaven and the demand of their mother on the savings that were to have been a nest-egg, while gray threads began to appear in Mary’s hair, and Frank’s lighter locks to leave his temples bare.

  So things stood when, on this strange afternoon, Miss Marshall was summoned mysteriously from watching the due performance of an imposition, and was told, outside the door, that Mr. Morton wanted to speak to her.

  It was startling news, for though the Misses Lang were kindly women, and had never thrown obstacles in the way of her engagement, they had merely permitted it, and almost ignored it, except when old Mrs. Morton was dying, and they had freely facilitated her attendance. ‘Surely something as dreadful as the running down of the Emma Jane must have happened!’ thought Mary as she sped to the drawing-room. She was a little brown mouse p. 6of a woman, with soft dark eyes, smooth hair, and a clear olive complexion, on which thirty-eight years of life and eighteen of waiting had not left much outward trace; for the mistresses were good women, who had never oppressed their underling, and though she had not met with much outward sympathy or companionship, the one well of hope and joy might at times suffer drought, but had never run dry, any more than the better fountain within and beyond.

  In she came, with eyes alarmed but ready to console. ‘Oh, Frank, what is it? What can I do for you?’

  ‘It is no bad news,’ was his greeting, as he put his arm round her trembling little figure and kissed her brow. ‘Only too good.’

  ‘Oh, is Mrs. Charles going to be married?’ the only hopeful contingency she could think of.

  ‘No,’ he said; ‘but, Mary, an extraordinary incident has taken place. I have inherited a property.’

  ‘A property? You are well off! Oh, thank God!’ and she clasped her hands, then held his. ‘At last! But what? How? Did you know?’

  ‘I knew of the connection, but that the family had never taken notice of my father. As to the rest I was entirely unprepared. My great-grandfather was a younger son of the first Lord Northmoor, but for some misconduct was cast off and proscribed. As you know, my grandfather and father devoted themselves to horses on the old farm, and made no pretensions to gentility. The elder branch of the family was once numerous, but it must have since p. 7dwindled till the old lord was left with only a little grandson, who died of diphtheria a short time before his grandfather.’

  ‘Poor old man!’ began Mary. ‘Then—oh! do you mean that he died too?’

  ‘Yes; he was ill before, and this was a fatal blow. It appears that he was aware that I was next in the succession, and after the boy’s death had desired the solicitor to write to me as heir-at-law.’

  ‘Heir-at-law! Frank, do you mean that you are—’ she said, turning pale.

  ‘Baron Northmoor,’ he answered, ‘and you, my patient Mary, will be the baroness as soon as may be.’

  ‘Oh, Frank!’—and there was a rush of tears—‘dear Frank, your hard work and cares are all over!’

  ‘I am not sure of that,’ he said gravely; ‘but, at least, this long waiting is over, and I can give you everything.’

  ‘But, oh!’ she cried, sobbing uncontrollably, with her face hidden in her handkerchief.

  ‘Mary, Mary! what does this mean? Don’t you understand? There’s nothing to hinder it now.’

  She made a gesture as if to put him back from her, and struggled for utterance.

  ‘It is very dear, very good; but—but it can’t be now. You must not drag yourself down with me.’

  ‘That is just nonsense, Mary. You are far fitter for this than I am. You are the one joy in it to me.’

  ‘You think so now,’ she said, striving to hold herself back; ‘but you won’t by and by.’

  ‘Do you think me a mere boy to change so p. 8easily?’ said the new lord earnestly. ‘I look on this as a heavy burthen and very serious responsibility: but it is to you whom I look to sweeten it, help me through with it, and guard me from its temptations.’

  ‘If I could.’

  ‘Come, Mary, I am forced to go to London immediately, and then on to the funeral. I shall miss the train if I remain another minute. Don’t send me away with a sore heart. Tell me that your affection has not been worn out by these weary years.’

  ‘You cannot think so, Frank,’ she sobbed. ‘You know it has only grown. I only want to do what is best for you.’

  ‘Not another word,’ he said, with a fresh kiss. ‘That is all I want for the present.’

  He was gone, while Mary crept up to her little attic, there to weep out her agitated, uncertain feelings.

  ‘Oh, he is so good! He deserves to be great. That I should be his first thought! Dear dear fellow! But I ought to give him up. I ought not to be a drag on him. It would not be fair on him. I can love him and watch him all the same; but oh, how dreary it will be to have no Sunday afternoons! Is this selfish? Is this worldly? Oh, help me to do right, and hold to what is best for him!’

  And whenever poor Mary had any time to herself out of sight of curious eyes, she spent it in concocting a letter that went near to the breaking of her constant heart.

  p. 9CHAPTER II

  HONOURS REFLECTED

  On the beach at Westhaven, beyond the town and harbour, stood a row of houses, each with a garden of tamarisk, thrift, and salt-loving flowers, frequented by lodgers in search of cheap sea breezes, and sometimes by families of yachting personages who liked to have their headquarters on shore.

  Two girls were making their way to one of these. One was so tall though very slight, that in spite of the dark hair streaming in the wind, she looked more than her fifteen years, and her brilliant pink-and-white complexioned face confirmed the impression. Her sister, keeping as much as she could under her lee, was about twelve years old, much more childish as well as softer, smaller, with lighter colouring and blue eyes. Going round the end of the house, they entered by the back door, and turning into a little parlour, they threw off their hats and gloves. The younger one began to lay the table for dinner, while the elder, throwing herself down panting, called out—

  ‘Ma, here’s a letter from uncle. I’ll open it. p. 10I hope he’s not crusty about that horrid low millinery business.’

  ‘Yes, do,’ called back a voice across
the tiled passage. ‘I’ve had no time. This girl has put me about so with Mrs. Leeson’s luncheon that I’ve not had a moment. Of all the sluts I’ve ever been plagued with, she’s the very worst, and so I tell her till I’m ready to drop. What is it then, Ida?’ as an inarticulate noise was heard.

  ‘Ma! ma! uncle is a lord!’ came back in a gasp.

  ‘What?’

  ‘Uncle’s a lord! Oh!’

  ‘Your uncle! That stick of a man! Don’t be putting your jokes on me, when I’m worrited to death!’ exclaimed Mrs. Morton, in fretful tones.

  ‘No joke. It’s true—Lord Northmoor.’ And this brought Mrs. Morton out of the kitchen in her apron and bib, with a knife in one hand and a bunch of parsley in the other. She was a handsome woman, in the same style as Ida, but her complexion had grown harder than accorded with the slightly sentimental air she assumed when she had time to pity herself.

  ‘It is! it is!’ persisted Ida, reading scraps from the letter; ‘“Title and estates devolve on me—family bereavements—elder line extinct.”‘

  ‘Give me the letter. Oh, you gave me such a turn!’ said Mrs. Morton, sinking into a chair.

  ‘What’s the row?’ said another voice, as a sturdy bright-eyed boy, between the ages of his sisters, came bouncing in. ‘I say, I want my grub—and be quick!’

  ‘Oh, Herbert, my dear boy,’ and his mother p. 11hugged him, ‘your uncle is a lord, and you’ll be one one of these days.’

  ‘I say, don’t lug a man’s head off. Who has been making a fool of you?’

  ‘Uncle Frank is Lord Northmoor,’ said Ida impressively.

  ‘I say, that’s a good one!’ and Herbert threw himself into a chair in fits of laughter.

  ‘It is quite true, Herbert,’ said his mother. ‘Here is the letter.’

  A bell rang sharply.

  ‘Bless me! I shall not hear much more of that bell, I hope. Run up, Conny, and say Mrs. Leeson’s lunch will be up in a moment, but we were hindered by unexpected news,’ said Mrs. Morton, bustling into the kitchen. ‘Oh dear! one doesn’t know where one is.’

  ‘Let her ring,’ said Ida. ‘Send her off, bag and baggage! We’ve done with lodgings and milliners and telegraphs, and all that’s low. We shall all be lords and ladies, and ever so rich.’

  ‘Hold hard!’ said Herbert, who had got possession of the letter. ‘He doesn’t say so.’